Full Notification

On 3/19/2018, between 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., Novato police officers conducted a minor alcohol access prevention operation funded by Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).  An underage decoy entered ABC licensed businesses and attempted to purchase alcohol.  Of the five locations entered, all asked the decoy for and checked the identification of the decoy.  Of the five ABC licensed establishments, four were successful in not furnishing alcohol to the minor decoy.  They were Whole Foods, Lucky, CVS at Downtown Center and the Shell Gas Station on South Novato Blvd.  One ABC licensed establishment, Novato Market, was unsuccessful when store clerk, Jacqueline Guzman-Garcia, a 20 year old Novato Resident, sold alcohol to the minor decoy.  Guzman-Garcia was issued a misdemeanor citation for the violation and will have to appear in court.  Also, Novato Market could face administrative actions from the Alcoholic Beverage Control for the violation.
 
In addition to the attempting to purchase alcohol from ABC licensed establishments, the minor decoy asked 11 people at 4 locations to purchase alcohol.  Of these 11 people, 32 year old San Rafael resident Francisco Aguilar-Cruz and 42 year old San Rafael resident Adolfo Mendoza-Ixmata were issued misdemeanor citations and will have to appear in court for furnishing alcohol for a minor. 

The Novato Police Department would like to thank the community, and the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, for its continual support to prevent youth access to alcohol.
 
INVOLVED OFFICERS: Corporal Hinkle, Officer Macias

RELEASED BY: Sergeant Andres DATE: 03/28/2018